Brake-testing device



Feb. 21,. 1 928.1

.JHB KENNEDY: BRAKE T STING DEVICE 7 Filed July 192s Patented Feb. 21, 1928.

- UNITED/STATES PATENT oFrrci BRAKE-TESTING DEVICE.

Application filed July 8,

This invention relates to a brake testing device and it is an object of the intention to rovide a device of this kind especially designed and adapted for usefin c nnection with the braking wheels of an automobile to determine whether or not the brakes are properly set.

it is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind comprising two relatively movable members having a tensioning medium interposed therebetween and with 'means whereby one of the memhers is adapted to be applied to a wheel of the automobile and wherein the second memher is rovided with means to permit pull being imposed thereon against the action of too tensioning medium. together with a member operating to give requisite indication upon relative movement of both of the members when pull is imposed upbn the second member.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved brake testing device whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. v

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating a testing device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my inven- 1 tion in applied position, a coacting wheel being lines;

diagrammatically indicated by broken Figure 2 is a view in front elevation 'of the device as illustrated in Figure 1 with the loop strap in section;

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the washer and indicating finger unapplied;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detailed elerational view showing the enlarged tubular portion of one of the members.

As herein disclosed, 1 denotes an elongated member or bar of metal or other suitable rigid material having pivotally connected to one end portion thereof the supl, t e

plemental member 2. of similar materia outer extremities of the members 1 and 2 1926. Serial No. 121,202.

being provided with the openings 3' whereb said members may be readily enga ed with the rim bolts of a wheel to proper y apply I the device thereto. 4

The members 1 and? are ca able of relative swinging movement where y the device I may be adjusted to accommodate itself to wheels of various sizes. This relative, move ment of the members 1 and 2 also ermits the device to be compacted or fold to 00- cupy a minimum of space when not in use.

I also find it of advantage to ivotally engage with the central portion 0 the member 1 a short arm 4 having an opening 5 in its The member 7 pivotally connecting the members 1 and 2 also provides a mounting for an end portion of an elongated rigid member 8 extendingin the same general direction as the member 1 but preferably terminating inwardly thereof.

The outer end portion of the member 8 has pivotally connected thereto, as at 9, a shank'10 which is freely disposed through an opening 11 provided in an enlarged portion 12 of the member 1. This shank 10 outwardly 'of the member 1 has in threaded engagement therewith a nut 14 preferably of a wing type. Interposed between the applied nut 14 and the member 1 is a washer '15 provided with an outstanding elongated finger 1G for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly referred to.

Inter-posed between the members 1 and 8 is a tensioning medium 17 herein disclosed "as'a coil spring encircling the shank 10 and the outer end portion of the member 8 has secured thereto a loop straD 18 providing a hand hold whereby requisite pull may. be imposed upon the member-8 when the device 1s 1n use.

In practice, assuming it is desired to see whether or not the two rear brakes are set at substantially the same tension, the rear portion of the machine is raised or jacked up and the brakes setunder such tension as to permit the wheel to be turned upon requisite pull. The device is then applied to one of the wheels and the nut 14 adjusted P erg messages so thee the iensiou or the spring X? m soon that when pull is imposed upon the member 8 through the medium of rho iii-op sirep 18, the member 8 wiii have slight mo merit in weirdly toward rhemember 1 o sub-so daily the some moment when the cegree o is suiiicieni, to turn iie WilQfii against iiie action of she bruire.

To deicrmiiie is action, the ring" hereinbefore referred i0, is cos-posed iii sci)- stanti'aily a, horizontal posit on. am just :15 soon as the member 8 has slight movement toward the member 1, the frictiormi co;o-- tact of the not 14. on the washer 15 2.11;? be released, permitting the finger 16 to drop. This, therefore, :ifi'orcis 'visuei means where by the operator readily determine when the tension or the spring 1'? has been prop erly adjusted. After the desired ecijusimerit of the spring 1'? has been effecteci in connection with one of the wheels, it is ooiy necessary to properly eppiy the cievice to the second rear wheel and if the finger 16 drops at substantially the same movement the second wheel roiaa'es against the action of its brake b pull upon iiic strep 18 it will show that iiotii or" the brakes are prooeriy adjusted. However, if this desired eciziori. does not occur in coimeciion with the second. wheel, the broke mechanism coeccing with such secpnci wheel is adjusted iiiiiii cine sired result is accomplished.

If the automobile be e, four wheel broke type, the operation hereiubeiiore referred to is performed in connection with each of the front wheels except time *bhe tension of the spring 17 is less than when empioyed in connection with the rear wiieeis because, is well known, ic is cissireoi isiie tension oif ibe from wiieei brakes be less than that of the rear wheeis,

From the fioregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a brake testing device consirucieci. in. accordance. with my in'verieion is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility iii 1 which it may be assembled and over ed, erd iiw'ii also be obvious. that my iriven on is susceptible of some change and mociiiicecion without cieperting from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason. Ii do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement auci formation of ihe several parts herein shown in carrying our my iuventionin practime except as hereinafter claimed.

11 claim I A wheel brake apparatus comprising arm mci'nbere pivoteiiy cozmeeteci. to other at one end, one of the arm members icing longer than the other, links pivotally connected with the longer erm member for connecting the some with a. wheel, a, pull member com nested with the end of the shorter arm meme her and disposedirsnsverseiy with relation to the iongererm memberios shank pivoted to the shorter arm mem er and slidably received in the longer arm member, a spring surrounding said. shock and interposed be-. tween the arm members, 9, stop nut mounted upon the end portion of thoshank, find a,

JAMES B. KENNEDY. 

